Oh, the state of the world is frightful
But the mall is so delightful
So until the bombs start to drop
Let us shop, let us shop, let us shop!

Pain and fear show no signs of stopping
But we forget them while we're shopping
Spin the holiday tunes non-stop
Let us shop, let us shop, let us shop!

When we finally hit our credit max
We may feel a slight dip in the cheer
But what's needed to pay it back
Keeps us busy at work 'til next year

If your holiday spirit's dying
Get out and get good buying
So our "way of life" stays on top
Let us shop, let us shop, let us shop!

Two years into the 21st century, it's time to make even better use of one of the most important ideas of the last century -- the recovery movement. Certainly, millions of alcoholics have benefited since Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith created the movement in 1935 to aid in their own struggle with alcoholism. The AA model of recovery has helped countless others to grapple with a variety of addictions and afflictions. The recovery movement is an all-American success story, from humble beginnings in Akron, Ohio, to its current international status, of which we can all be proud.

Doing a Web search, I recently happened upon a related offshoot, Dual Recovery Anonymous. Dual recovery is for those who "are chemically dependent and also affected by an emotional or psychiatric illness." Hmmm. Would dependence on oil and post-traumatic stress qualify? If so, wouldn't it be a good idea for the nation to start on the road to recovery, as soon as possible, from our various addictions and afflictions? And what better time to start on our wee consumption problem than the joyous holiday shopping season?

We live in a world where the richest 500 people control more wealth than the poorest half of the human population. This is where the roots of conflict in the world come from. It would be good to know whose way of life we're protecting -- ours or the top 500? If you're reading this, you probably don't fit into either end of the economic demographic, and yet it's those of us in the middle who pay the price and can make the necessary changes. So I'm offering these simple steps, for Americans from nine to 92. It has been said many times, many ways: Happy Recovery to You.

Step 1: Admitted we were powerless over our consumption and that our lives had become unmanageable.

Okay, so this isn't simple. It might help to know that this first step is considered the hardest of all. If you're not yet ready to admit your powerlessness -- and with all the power tripping going on recently, you certainly would not be alone -- you might consider thinking about when you might be ready. When trillions of dollars for more violence don't bring an end to violence, but do bring an end to needed initiatives in health-care, education, child care, et cetera? When global economic or environmental realities cause the deaths of thousands? Millions? When someone you know and care about becomes a victim? When the environment gets compromised enough to require major adjustments in your life?

Step 2: Came to believe that a Higher Power of our understanding could restore us to sanity.

This is where it gets difficult for people who have a hard time with religious and spiritual talk. Bill W. and Dr. Bob used God. Some groups came up later with the use of the "Higher Power" to avoid scaring off skeptics, non-believers, and the religiously wounded. It is, literally, a leap of faith -- a belief not based on proof. Look closely for proof that our current course makes sense, and talk to those who have made the leap and survived (and thrived). Wouldn't explaining and exploring this and the subsequent steps be a great project for faith-based initiatives?

Step 3: Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of our Higher Power, to help us rebuild our lives in a positive and caring way.

Letting go of our national will -- that's not an undertaking for the faint of heart. But the recovery movement has been helping individuals let go of their individual will for decades. It knows how to ease the transition.

Step 4: Made a searching and fearless personal inventory of ourselves.

Believe me, once we get to this step, it'll be a breeze. One little all-points-bulletin on the Internet will provide us with the national inventory we need.

Step 5: Admitted to our Higher Power, to ourselves and to another human being the exact nature of our liabilities and assets.

I like this version of the 12 steps for the addition of assets to liabilities. There is so much our country has going for it. Things like the human rights, freedoms, and democracy that citizens around the world yearn to call their own. It will be necessary to be reminded of our finest qualities as we face up to our not-so-finest hours.

Step 6: Were entirely ready to have our Higher Power remove those liabilities.

See how this step is different from the last, as well as from the next? These are really important distinctions.

Step 7: Humbly asked our Higher Power to remove our liabilities and to strengthen our assets.

Feel the burn.

Step 8: Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.

Ouch.

Step 9: Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.

Think we might need a congressional committee (or a Council of Grandmothers) to make decisions about the second part of this one?

Step 10: Continued to take personal inventory and when wrong, promptly admitted it, while continuing our progress in recovery.

And the beat goes on.

Step 11: Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with our Higher Power, praying only for knowledge of Higher Power's will for us, and the power to carry that out.

Amen.

Step 12: Having had a spiritual awakening as a result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to those that still suffer and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

Ta-da! That's all there is to it. I know some of you can imagine a nation in recovery. Hold that thought. If the national agenda is too much to chew on, start a bit smaller. If recovery works as well for families, workplaces, communities, religions, or political parties as it has for individuals, wouldn't it be worth the effort? The most important lesson of the recovery movement that we can practice immediately is that we can't do it alone. I repeat, we can't do it alone. Try asking for help this holiday season. Take one day at a time. Take it easy. Let go. Let God. Keep it simple. If we can do this as rugged individuals, we might be able to do it as a nation. Let there be peace on Earth and let it begin with me.

Pam Steager can be reached at pjsteager@earthlink.net.

Issue Date: December 13 - 19, 2002